Get Your Freakin’ Flu Shot!

This year’s flu epidemic is predicted to be worse than normal. Several people, including children, have already died of the flu this year. Let’s repeat that: PEOPLE ARE DYING OF THE FLU. Now, you may or may not care too much whether you get the flu yourself - hey, you are young and healthy - but if you get the flu, the chances are great that you are going to pass it on to others, who may already have health problems, which could spell big trouble for them.

YOU CANNOT GET THE FLU FROM THE FLU SHOT. If you have previously gotten sick after getting a flu shot, it’s either because the flu was already working on you when you got the shot, or you came down with some other virus that floats around this time of year. It is medically impossible to get the flu from the flu shot. Repeat that as needed.

If you are afraid of needles and that is the reason you don’t get a shot, well #1, you are a big baby. Get over it. It takes one minute and it’s done. My doctor gave me the shot in my hip this year, which hurt much less than getting it in the arm, so ask your doctor about that option. And #2, they now have a handy little nasal inhaler dosage of the flu vaccine. Unless you are afraid of nasal spray, and then you have deeper issues, my friend.

It’s true that the most dangerous strain of the flu this year was not included in this year’s vaccine, but some protection is better than no protection, and the vaccine is still effective against many strains of the flu.

Do your part for humanity. Get the flu shot, if only to keep from spreading it to others who may not be as young and healthy as you are.

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